{"product_id":"elamite-terracotta-votive-plaque-ishtar-1800-1600-bce","title":"Ancient Elamite Terracotta Votive Plaque of Ishtar | Circa 1800–1600 BCE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Elam, Ancient Southwestern Iran\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCulture:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Elamite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Terracotta\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Circa 1800–1600 BCE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis ancient \u003c\/span\u003eElamite terracotta votive plaque depicts a standing female figure identified as the goddess Ishtar, dating to approximately 1800–1600 BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figure is rendered in relief against a flat-backed plaque. Her lower body is distinctly columnar, while the torso is more softly modelled. Both arms are folded across the chest, creating a formal devotional pose. The face displays gently defined features beneath a prominent large headdress, an important element of the figure’s divine presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe simplified yet carefully composed form reflects the symbolic character of ancient Elamite religious imagery. Mineral deposits and surface weathering remain visible across the terracotta, preserving the archaeological character of the piece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eRepresents the \u003c\/span\u003egoddess Ishtar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStanding female figure rendered in relief\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlat-backed plaque construction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eColumnar lower body\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArms folded across the chest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoftly modelled facial features\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLarge headdress\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMineral deposits and archaeological surface wear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOld restoration visible at the neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTerracotta votive plaques formed an important part of religious and devotional practice in the ancient Near East. Images of female deities could serve as objects of personal devotion, household worship, or ritual dedication.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis example is attributed by the specialist to the \u003c\/span\u003eElamite tradition and identified as representing Ishtar\u003cspan\u003e, one of the most important female deities of the ancient Near East. Her associations included love, fertility, warfare, and divine power, although the precise original context of this plaque cannot be established without archaeological provenance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient condition with \u003c\/span\u003emineral deposits, surface abrasion, and minor losses consistent with considerable age. An old restoration is present at the neck\u003cspan\u003e. The principal features of the figure—including the folded arms, facial modelling, headdress, and columnar body—remain clearly discernible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDepth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1.5 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3,600–3,800 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of the collection of a lifelong antiques collector in South Paris, Maine, United States. The collector assembled a broad and varied group of historical and decorative objects over many decades. Following the collector’s passing, the estate collection was dispersed in its entirety, and this piece subsequently entered the art market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and is accredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Salvaggio identified the object as an Elamite terracotta votive plaque representing the goddess Ishtar, dating to circa 1800–1600 BCE, based on its flat-backed relief construction, columnar lower body, folded arms, facial modelling, and prominent headdress. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExamine a comparable ancient terracotta figure in the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/art.thewalters.org\/object\/48.1807\/\" title=\"Ancient Terracotta Figurine – Walters Art Museum\"\u003eWalters Art Museum collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover Our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/lost-civilizations-artifacts-of-forgotten-cultures\" title=\"Lost Civilizations: Artifacts of Forgotten Cultures – Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Lost Civilizations: Artifacts of Forgotten Cultures\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic and Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52929335296322,"sku":null,"price":550.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Ancient-Mesopotamian-Terracotta-Female-Votive-8674.png?v=1791231382","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/products\/elamite-terracotta-votive-plaque-ishtar-1800-1600-bce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}